NBA-SBL Regulatory Clinic Returns for 2025 Conference

by Legalnaija | Jun 9, 2025 | Blawg

NBA-SBL Regulatory Clinic Returns for 2025 Conference

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) is pleased to announce the return of its highly impactful Regulatory Clinic, as part of the upcoming 19th Annual International Business Law Conference, taking place from July 2nd to 4th, 2025 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Regulatory Clinic, now in its third year, has become a cornerstone of the NBA-SBL Conference experience—offering a rare platform where commercial, legal practitioners, and regulators converge for open, solution-driven dialogue.

First introduced at the 2022 conference, the Regulatory Clinic was born out of the need to bridge persistent communication gaps between private sector actors and regulatory authorities. Since then, it has provided a unique space for practical engagement, enabling participants to gain clarity on complex compliance requirements, discuss pain points, and collaboratively explore policy improvements across various sectors.
Commenting on this year’s edition, Ms. Solape Peters, Chair of the 2025 Conference Planning Committee, noted:
“The Regulatory Clinic is one of the most anticipated components of the NBA-SBL Conference because it delivers real-world impact. It’s where law and policy meet day-to-day business challenges, and we encourage professionals and enterprises to help shape this year’s agenda by taking our pre-event poll.”

As part of its commitment to inclusivity and relevance, NBA-SBL is inviting stakeholders to participate in a short pre-event poll. The goal is to identify the most pressing regulatory issues faced by professionals and entrepreneurs today. Insights from the poll will inform the selection of focus areas and the structure of this year’s clinic.
Who Should Participate?
• Business owners and entrepreneurs
• In-house legal counsel and compliance officers
• Law firm practitioners
• Startups and Fintech
• Industry association representatives
• Regulatory professionals
About NBA-SBL
The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) serves as a platform for fostering collaboration between the legal profession and the business community. Through initiatives like the Regulatory Clinic, NBA-SBL continues to play a leading role in shaping responsive, transparent, and enabling business environments in Nigeria.
For more information about the Regulatory Clinic or the main conference, visit www.nbasbl.com

The FX Roundtable Discussion: A Premier Highlight of NBA Law Week 2025

by Legalnaija | Jun 5, 2025 | Blawg

NBA LAGOS LAW WEEK; KIAKIA FINANCE IS PROUD LEAD SPONSOR

by Legalnaija | Jun 4, 2025 | Blawg

JAALS Foundation presents the 7th JAALS Conference 

by Legalnaija | Jun 4, 2025 | Blawg

Why Nigerian Lawyers Must Be Visible Online

by Legalnaija | May 16, 2025 | Blawg

Why Nigerian Lawyers Must Be Visible Online

In today’s digital age, people turn to the internet for solutions to almost everything—including legal issues. According to Google Trends, hundreds of people in Nigeria search online daily for lawyers to help them navigate legal challenges. Whether it’s contract disputes, property transactions, or corporate legal matters, potential clients are actively looking for legal professionals who can provide guidance and representation.

The Importance of Online Visibility for Lawyers

When someone needs legal assistance, their first instinct is to search online. If a lawyer or law firm isn’t visible in those searches, they risk losing potential clients to competitors who have established a strong digital presence. Being accessible online is no longer optional—it’s a necessity for legal professionals who want to grow their practice and connect with clients efficiently.

For Nigerian lawyers looking to expand their client base, Legalnaija Directory is the ultimate solution. It provides a centralized platform where individuals and businesses can easily find qualified legal professionals based on their expertise and location. Here’s why Legalnaija Directory is a game-changer:

Increased Visibility – Lawyers listed on the platform appear in relevant searches, making it easier for clients to find them.
Targeted Client Reach – Connect with people actively seeking legal services in Nigeria.
Credibility & Trust – A professional profile on Legalnaija enhances a lawyer’s reputation and credibility.
Seamless Client Engagement – Potential clients can contact lawyers directly through the platform, streamlining the consultation process.

Don’t Miss Out on Potential Clients

If you’re a lawyer in Nigeria, now is the time to take control of your online presence. Clients are searching for legal help every day—make sure they find you when they need it most. Join Legalnaija Directory today and position yourself as a go-to legal expert in your field!

Ready to grow your practice? Get listed on Legalnaija Directory and start connecting with clients effortlessly. Log into the Lawyers Directory🚀

NBA Lagos Branch Annual Law Conference 2025: A Gathering of Legal Excellence

by Legalnaija | May 14, 2025 | Blawg

‘AI Will Not Replace Lawyers: A Snap Rejoinder To Reno Omokri’ | Isah Bala Garba

by Legalnaija | May 9, 2025 | Blawg

Yesterday, Reno Omokri made a post on his Facebook page stating how AI is rapidly taking over the lawyer’s job. He averred that AI is being used to make laws and give judgments in some parts of the world. Of course, no one is disputing that AI is a developing innovation and is here to stay, but Reno is overhyping the whole thing, which, as far as reality is concerned, is a mirage.

A Legal Practitioner, as defined under section (24) of the Legal Practitioners Act (2004), is a person entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court. For someone to be qualified to practice as a legal practitioner, section 2(1) of the Act provides that such a person must have his name on the Roll; otherwise, he cannot engage in any form of legal practice in Nigeria. To have one’s name on the Roll, section 7 of the Act prescribes that such a person must have been called to the Bar by the Body of Benchers and must produce a certificate of his call to the Bar to the Supreme Court Registrar. And for you to be called to the Bar, you must have had your LL.B Degree and BL certificate. The question now is: does AI have an LL.B. and BL certificate? Because Section 8(2) of the LPA also provides for a lawyer as the only person having the right of audience in all courts in Nigeria to represent clients; any other person cannot. That’s to say, an AI can’t go and move a motion or bail application in court without spending five years at the university pursuing an LL.B degree and another one  year for BL at the Law School. Section 22(1)(b) of the Legal Practitioner Act specifically mentions some documents that are meant for lawyers to sign and not any other person, for example, instruments relating to immovable property.

Furthermore, Mr. Reno, you should note that the law is settled that it is only a legal practitioner that can prepare and sign court processes. Therefore, the signing of a court process by a person whose name is not on the Roll will render such a process incompetent. This has been given judicial blessing in the case of Adeneye v. Yaro (2013) 3 NWLR.

Let’s assume AI even prepared the brief you’re taking to court. Who will then sign it for it to be valid? An ‘AI Robert’? Of course not. It must be signed by a lawyer, or else your smart opposing counsel will cite the case of Okafor v. Nweke (2007) 10 NWLR to get rid of your worthless paper for lacking a lawyer’s signature. Court processes can be said to have been properly signed, Mr. Reno, if they fulfill the following, as per, Supreme Court:

1. ‘The signature of Counsel, which may be in any form;
2. The name of Counsel clearly written as indication of authorship of the signature;
3. The name of the person(s) Counsel represents; and
4. Name and address of the law firm under which Counsel practices as legal practitioner or solicitor/advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.’

Any breach of the above is fundamental and will make the process suffer the fate of every incompetent brief, which is ‘striking out’. On this, I place reliance on the Supreme Court decision of SLB Consortium v. NNPC (2011) 9 NWLR.

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In addition, AI can’t replace the analytical skills, legal advocacy skills and deep thinking needed by lawyers. AI cannot build trust nor have the emotional intelligence to guide a client through the toughest moments of their lives, which is a skill required during client interviews. Practicing law requires human intelligence and emotion; after all, your clients are human too. Adaptability, cunning psychological techniques, as well as appealing to emotion, especially during cross-examination, are very sacrosanct, and AI doesn’t have all this.

Furthermore, you assert that ‘AI is being used to give judgment’. Do you think such judgment will be just and reasonable? Does AI have a sense of discernment? Let me briefly narrate an enriching court session I witnessed this week at the National Industrial Court, Kano Division. Monday was slated for the adoption of the final written addresses. The learned counsel filed a reply on point of law, and during the adoption, the counsel to the plaintiff, who’s a senior advocate, vehemently argued that National Industrial Court Rules don’t recognize any reply on point of law in a written address. Everyone in the court and the Learned Judge were in awe, but without citing any case nor section, My Lord asked the learned silk a simple question: ‘Learned silk, confirm to this Honourable Court that you have never filed a reply on point of law before [since you started practicing]?’ Learned silk replied with a coping smile on his face that he’s always a plaintiff, so he has never. Everyone burst out laughing, and the Judge said: ‘When I see you in court for adoption of final written address, I know you’re up to something, because you can allow your junior counsel to come a do the adoption, in anyway,  learned silk, there is no way I can deny him a reply on point of law as it will go down to issue of fair hearing.’ And that was how the objection was overruled.

Please, if I may ask, can an AI Judge make the above erudite discernment? Don’t you think you think it will be swayed  with the argument of the learned silk that National Industrial Court rules don’t allow reply on point of law, and which  the NIC rule is actually silent about, and thereby deny the innocent learned counsel the opportunity to be heard?

Based on the foregoing, I end with the saying of my Senior Learning Colleague A.A. Abdulrauf: ‘As long as law remains a discipline, it cannot be approached just because one can speak English. AI will never replace lawyers; it will just be a tool to ease lawyers’ work.’ AI isn’t here to replace legal practitioners’ work but rather to change how they work. It is a tool to be used in legal research; even in that, it must be used consciously, as AI only knows the general principles of law but not its intricacies. It can also be used for drafting some legal instruments that have a generally acceptable sample across the globe or a region, but not for draftings to be taken to court. On this, I submit that,  AI won’t eliminate the need for lawyers but will transform their roles. It can automate routine tasks, which will help lawyers spend more time on the human aspects of the role, such as client relationships and advocacy. I say no more!

Isah Bala Garba is a level 300 student from Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached for comments or corrections on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isah-bala-garba-301983276 isahbalagarba05@gmail.com or on 08100129131.